Container filling apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for filling a container with a liquid wherein a reservoir or tank is provided with a nozzle having a vent tube extending therethrough. The nozzle and vent tube are closed when in an inoperative state with the vent tube being opened prior to the opening of the nozzle upon actuation of a valve member. The reservoir or tank is subjected to a vacuum which is communicated to the container by way of said vent tube.

[ Nov. 19, 1974 nited States Patent Franz 3 CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS 5/1956 Day et a1. 12/1968 [76] Inventor: Henry H. Franz, 1-1. 1-1. Franz Co.,

8/1969 Robbins.....................

3201 Falls Cliff Rd., Baltimore, Md. 21211 [22] Filed: Aug. 6, 1973 Primary ExaminerHouston S. Bell, Jr.

[21] Appl. No.: 385,728

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kemon, Palmer & Estabrook [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for filling a container with a liquid [52] US. 141/117, 141/293 [51] Int. B65b 3/18, B67c 3/30 [58] Field of Search................................ 141/1, 4-7,

141/59, 114, 116, 117, 291-310, 392, wherein a reservoir or tank is provided with a nozzle having a vent tube extending therethrough. The nozzle and vent tube are closed when in an inoperative state References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1944 with the vent tube being opened prior to the opening of the nozzle upon actuation of a valve member. The

reservoir or tank is subjected to a vacuum which is communicated to the container by way of said vent M o D. .m L

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1 CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an apparatus for handling fluent material with specific emphasis being placed upon drip prevention by flow reversing.

The usual bottle or container filling machine or apparatus consists of a reservoir or tank having a plurality of filling nozzles or tubes, each of which is provided with a closure valve to control'the flow of a liquid, such as milk, into the bottle or container. The liquid is delivered to the container upon the raising or elevating of said container into sealing engagement with the lower end of the filling nozzle or tube, which action usually results in unseating the valve and permitting the fluid from the reservoir or tank to flow into the container. The filling nozzle or tube usually has associated therewith a vent tube or passage that communicates with a space above the liquid in the tank or reservoir so that as the fluid flows into the bottle or container, the air contained therein will flow through the vent tube or passage and into the space above the liquid in the tank. The patent to Minard U.S. Pat. No. 2,324,793 of July 20, 1943 is illustrative of filling nozzle for such a machine.

It is customary in an apparatus of this type, to maintain the tank or reservoir under an operating vacuum during the filling operations. Inasmuch as the vent tube is opened at its upper end to the low pressure area of the tank or reservoir air is consequently withdrawn from the bottle or container through said vent tube into the upper portion of the tank or reservoir, when the bottle or container has been raised or elevated into sealing engagement with the lower end of the filling nozzle or tube thereby reducing the pressure in the bottle or container to the same pressure that exists in the upper portion of the tank or reservoir. Thus, as the valve is unseated, upon the raising of the bottle or con tainer, the air remaining in the bottle or container is forced through the vent tube as the liquid from the tank or reservoir flows into the bottle or container and said air is gradually discharged through the vent tube.

Upon the completion of the filling operation, the container or bottle is lowered from the filling nozzle or tube, which action results in the valve member engaging its seat for closing the passage of fluid to the bottle or container. Upon the seating of the valve member and the gradual withdrawal of the bottle or container from the filling nozzle or tube, the liquid which has risen within the vent tube to the level of the supply in the reservoir, is forced back into the lower pressure area of the reservoir by atmospheric pressure operating through the vent tube as the container is removed therefrom. This concept eliminates any dripping of the fluid contents from the vent tube and from the nozzle structure and at the same time assists in maintaining a uniform fill height in the bottle or container.

In the majority of instances, the type of container that is usually employed in present day usage is of a cardboard carton type or a relative thin, flexible plastic type of continer, both of which are readily capable of receiving and holding a fluid, such as milk, when same are subjected to the normal and customary usage. The use of a plastic container has been found to be highly desirable, but with present day apparatus for filling such container, it is necessary to materially reduce the vacuum pressure that is maintained within the tank or reservoir from the pressure that is commonly employed in filling conventional containers. If the same vacuum pressure were to be maintained in the tank or reservoir when using a plastic container, as is maintained when using other types of containers, the plastic container would collapse or become distorted during the venting or filling thereof and thus be incapable of usage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to the concept of improving the filling nozzleand vent'tube structure so that same may be readily used with conventional tanks and reservoirs and wherein the vacuum pressure within the tank or reservoir may be reduced to permit the use of containers formed from relatively thin plastic material. In the present invention the vent tube as well as the nozzle are so formed that both are closed with respect to the atmosphere during non-filling periods. The present concept permits, during the filling operation, for the vent tube to be opened prior to the opening of the nozzle. This arrangement allows any fluid in the vent tube to flow into the container after which air in the container is vented through the vent tube in the customary manner as the nozzle is opened and the container filled. Upon the filling of the container, the nozzle is closed, but the vent tube remains open in communication with the continer and the tank or reservoir. Thus, any air in the top of the container is vented through the vent tube and any excess fluid is withdrawn from the top of the container into the vent tube due to the vacuum being pulled in the tank or reservoir. The vent tube is then closed which prevents any dripping. of the fluid as the container is removed. so that when the next container is moved into position and the vent tube is opened, the fluid in the vent tube will flow into th'e container. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a nozzle for filling containers formed from relatively thin plastic material wherein the customary nozzle and vent tube are both closed during non-filling operations.

Another object is to provide a nozzle structure for filling plastic type or other non-rigid containers with a desired amount of fluid withthe aid of a vacuum without collapsing the container and without the loss of liquid due to dripping or the like. Another object is to provide a nozzle structure with associated vent tube having means for closing both the nozzle and vent tube during non-filling operations and for opening the vent tube to the container prior to opening the nozzle toprovide fluid communication between the container anti reservorr.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view partly in section of a container filling apparatus showing a filling nozzle embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the container filling apparatus shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the filling nozzle in a operative state;

FIG. 3 is a' horizontal sectional view of a portion of the nozzle, the view being taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the nozzle, the view being taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1', and

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the nozzle, the view being taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. I.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing there is shown in FIG. 1, a portion of a tank or reservoir which contains a suitable liquid, such as milk, that is to be delivered to various and sundry types of containers for filling same. The tank or reservoir 10 is provided with a conventional cover or lid, not shown, for effectively sealing and closing said tank or reservoir to permit the maintaining of a sub-atmospheric pressure therein. The lower or bottom surface of the tank or reservoir 10 has formed integrally therewith, a depending filling tube or nozzle 12 that has on its inner surface at its juncture with the bottom of the tank, an annular projection which constitutes a valve seat 14. The seat 14 has associated therewith an annular inlet or filler valve 16 which is provided on its lower surface with an annular groove for the reception of a resilient sealing ring 18 that engages said seat 14 to provide an effective seal between the seat and valve member. The valve member 16 has extending therethrough a vent tube or pipe 20 that is of sufficient length to project above the level of the liquid in the tank or reservoir 10 and which terminates within the air space between the cover of said tank or reservoir and the liquid therein. The vent tube 20 also projects from the valve member 16 through the filling tube or nozzle 12 and terminates at a point below said nozzle in an enlarged head or projection 22. The end of the vent tube 20 adjacent the head or projection 22 is formed with an opening 23 to permit the passage of fluid into and out of said tube. The head or projection 22 is provided with a radially extending plate-like member or washer 24.

The filling tube or nozzle 12 has formed upon the external surface thereof, adjacent its lower end, an annular flange or abutment 26, the lower surface of which in conjunction with the end portion of the filling tube or nozzle 12 defines an annular seat 28 for the reception of the upper ring-like portion 30 of a bellows or diaphragm member 32. The bellows 32 is formed with a spaced lower ring-like element 34 which with the upper ring portion 30 provide the bellows with a central chamber or compartment 36. The lower ring element 34 has secured to its inner surface an annular nipplelike member 38 which is relatively ridged and projects in a downwardly manner from the bellows or diaphragm 32. The upper end of the nipple-like member 38 terminates in an annular flange 40 which with said member tends to define a seat for the lower ring-like element 34 of the bellows 32. The annular nipple-like member 38 is of a size commensurate with that of the plate-like member 24 carried by the enlarged head 22 on the vent tube 20 and the lower end of said nipple- ]ike member 38 is adapted to seat upon the plate-like member 24, FIG. 1.

The external diameter of the vent tube 20 is considerably less than the internal diameter of the filling tube or nozzle 12 so that an annular discharge passageway 42 is provided throughout the length of the filling tube or nozzle 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vent tube 20 is not co-axialy disposed with respect to the nozzle 12 or with respect to the filled valve 16, as the longitudinal axis of said vent tube is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of both the filler valve 16 and the filling tube or nozzle 12. The vent tube 20 has formed on the external surface thereof intermediate the valve member 16 and the enlarged head or projection 22, one or more ribs or protuberances 44 with at least one of said ribs being of a greater width than the others, FIG. 5.

In the operation of the present invention a container 46 is positioned upon a filling or lifting platform, not shown, for the purpose of raising and lowering said container with respect to said filling nozzle 12. The raising of the container 46 will bring the annular lip 48 of the container into sealing engagement with the lower ring-like element 34 of the bellows or diaphragm member 32. The continued movement of the container 46 causes the rinlike element 34 and the nipple member 38 to be elevated. The initial movement of the nipplelike member 38 opens the passageway 23 in the vent tube so that the lower end of said vent tube is then in communication with the interior of the container 46. During this initial opening of the vent tube 20, by the collapsing or compressing of the bellows or diaphragm 32 through the raising or movement of the nipple-like member 38 the valve member 16 is still positioned on the valve seat 14 so that fluid cannot flow through the passageway 42 in the filling tube or nozzle 12. Thus the opening of the vent tube to the interior of the container 46 permits any fluid that might be contained in said vent to flow into the container 46 and then the continued movement of the container 46 through the action of lifting platform, not shown, causes the annular flange 40 of the nipple-like member 38 to engage a notch-like recess 50 in the ribs 44 provided on the vent tube 20. Upon the engagement of the flange 40 with the notchlike recess 50 the vent tube will be raised within the passage 12 causing the valve member 16 to be elevated with respect to the valve seat 14 thereby permitting the fluid from the reservoir or tank 10 to flow through the passage 42 and through the nozzle 12 and into the container 46. As the liquid flows through the nozzle 12, it will be directed onto the enlarged head or projection 22 and from there, it will flow radially outward toward the sides of the container in order to minimize any foaming tendacy of the liquid in entering the container. During the filling of the container 46 the air that is contained therein is expelled through the open vent or passageway 23 into the tube 20 any any foam that might be produced during the filling of the container 46 will tend to rise through the vent tube. As the container 46 becomes filled, the liquid will enter the vent tube 20 and rise to the level of the liquid in the reservoir or tank 10.

Upon the filling of the container 46, the movement of the lifting platform is reversed so as to lower the container with respect to the filling tube or nozzle 12. As the container 46 descends, the bellows or diaphragm member 32 will expand from the position shown in FIG. 2 to that as shown in FIG. 1 which movement will permit the nipple-like member 38 to move downwardly along the vent tube. Prior to the engagement of the nipple-like member 38 with the member 24, the valve member 16 will engage the valve seat 14 for closing the reservoir or tank against further flow of liquid through the passageway 42 and then the continued downward movement of the bellows or diaphragm member 32 will permit the lower end of the nipple-like element 38 to engage the washer-like member 24 for closing and sealing the vent tube 20.

During the final stages of the filling of the container, the air within the container flows through the vent tube 20 and into the tank or reservoir and any excess fluid or foam will also move from the container into the vent tube.20 and said foam and liquid due to the vacuum action within the tank reservoir will be drawn upwardly into the tube and eventually into the tank or reservoir. As the nipple-like member 38 engages the washer or plate member 24 and thus closes the opening 23 in the vent tube 20 to the container 46, any residual fluid or foam that might be in the vent tube 20 will be retained therein. Thus, upon the presentation of an empty container to the filling nozzle the initial opening of the vent tube by the upward movement of the nipplelike member 38 will permit any fluid that is contained within the vent tube to flow through the opening 23 into the container, and then any air contained within the container and that which is developed during the filling of the container will freely flow upwardly through the opening 23 and through the vent tube and into the tank or reservoir.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining and that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for filling a container with liquid from a reservoir having a depending nozzle comprising a valve seat formed on said nozzle, a valve member having a sealing ring engaging said seat to control the flow of liquid from the reservoir through said nozzle, a vent tube carried by said valve member and arranged to extend above the liquid level in the reservoir, said vent tube extending through said nozzle and terminating in a projection, said vent tube having an opening formed therein adjacent said projection, a bellows-like member mounted on the lower end of said nozzle and depending therefrom, an annular nipple-like member carried by said bellows and arranged to engage said projection to close the opening in said vent tube, said bellows engaged by a container for initially compressing said bellows toward said nozzle to raise said nipple-like member and open said vent tube to deliver any fluid therein to said container, said nipple-like member upon the continued compressing of said bellows engaging means on said vent tube to elevate said vent tube and valve member for delivering liquid to said container through said nozzle.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve member engages said valve seat to close the flow of fluid through said nozzle upon the movement of the container and bellows away from the lower end of the nozzle, said bellows expanding upon the movement of said container away from said nozzle end to create a suction and draw liquid into said vent tube prior to the closing of said vent tube opening by said nipple-like the longitudinal axis of said nozzle. 

1. Apparatus for filling a container with liquid from a reservoir having a depending nozzle comprising a valve seat formed on said nozzle, a valve member having a sealing ring engaging said seat to control the flow of liquid from the reservoir through said nozzle, a vent tube carried by said valve member and arranged to extend above the liquid level in the reservoir, said vent tube extending through said nozzle and terminating in a projection, said vent tube having an opening formed therein adjacent said projection, a bellows-like member mounted on the lower end of said nozzle and depending therefrom, an annular nipple-like member carried by said bellows and arranged to engage said projection to close the opening in said vent tube, said bellows engaged by a container for initially compressing said bellows toward said nozzle to raise said nipplelike member and open said vent tube to deliver any fluid therein to said container, said nipple-like member upon the continued compressing of said bellows engaging means on said vent tube to elevate said vent tube and valve member for delivering liquid to said container through said nozzle.
 2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve member engages said valve seat to close the flow of fluid through said nozzle upon the movement of the container and bellows away from the lower end of the nozzle, said bellows expanding upon the movement of said container away from said nozzle end to create a suction and draw liquid into said vent tube prior to the closing of said vent tube opening by said nipple-like member.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said projection is formed with an annular projection for engaging said nipple-like member.
 4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means on said vent tube is a protuberance.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said nipple-like member is formed with a flanged end that engages the end of said nozzle and limits the movement of said bellows.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis of said vent tube is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of said nozzle. 